Being on sick leave due to heart failure: self-rated health, encounters with healthcare professionals and social insurance officers and self-estimated ability to return to work

Abstract

Younger people with heart failure often experience poor self-rated health. Furthermore, poor self-rated health is associated with long-term sick leave and disability pension. Socio-demographic factors affect the ability to return to work. However, little is known about people on sick leave due to heart failure. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between self-rated health, mood, socio-demographic factors, sick leave compensation, encounters with healthcare professionals and social insurance officers and self-estimated ability to return to work, for people on sick leave due to heart failure. This population-based investigation had a cross-sectional design. Data were collected in Sweden in 2012 from two official registries and from a postal questionnaire. In total, 590 subjects, aged 23-67, responded (response rate 45.8%). Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses (Spearman bivariate analysis) and logistic regression analyses were used to investigate associations. Poor self-rated health was strongly associated with full sick leave compensation (OR = 4.1, p < .001). Compared self-rated health was moderately associated with low income (OR = .6, p = .003). Good self-rated health was strongly associated with positive encounters with healthcare professionals (OR = 3.0, p = .022) and to the impact of positive encounters with healthcare professionals on self-estimated ability to return to work (OR = 3.3, p < .001). People with heart failure are sicklisted for long periods of time and to a great extent receive disability pension. Not being able to work imposes reduced quality of life. Positive encounters with healthcare professionals and social insurance officers can be supportive when people with heart failure struggle to remain in working life.

Received and needed social support in relation to sociodemographic and socio‐economic factors in a population of people on sick leave due to heart failure

“…People with heart failure are often sick listed for long periods, and some will never be able to return to work 1, 2, 3. However, knowledge regarding social support for people on sick leave due to heart failure is scarce.…”

“…Different sources for support, for example, family vs. managers, can be assumed to provide different sorts of support. For people on sick leave due to heart failure, social insurance officers and healthcare professionals have been described as potentially supportive sources 2, 17, 18…”

“…People with heart failure are often sick listed for long periods, and some will never be able to return to work. [1][2][3] However, knowledge regarding social support for people on sick leave due to heart failure is scarce. It is reasonable, though, to believe that a person with heart failure who wants to return to working life (if possible) may perceive different needs for support than a person who is finished with working life.…”

“…For people on sick leave due to heart failure, social insurance officers and healthcare professionals have been described as potentially supportive sources. 2,17,18 In order to develop and design effective interventions and rehabilitation programmes as well as clinical guidelines that concern heart failure patients' return to work processes, more knowledge is needed about the patients' perceptions of social support. A recent Danish study describes younger age, male gender, higher educational level, and higher income as possible predictors for return to work in people with heart failure.…”

Emotions and encounters with healthcare professionals as predictors for the self-estimated ability to return to work: a cross-sectional study of people with heart failure

“…Such factors include how healthcare professionals encounter the sick-listed person. [16][17][18][19] Also emotional responses can affect the ability to return to work. 20 Emotions are evoked and experienced when encountered by other people, especially when encountered by people who are perceived as particularly significant.…”